Nutrition Counseling & Education

Individual Nutrition Counseling

An individual nutrition counseling session to discuss your goals and concerns is a time when it truly is all about you – in the best way.

It is easy to question your nutrition habits with so much advice about what to eat or avoid, including conflicting information from all kinds of “experts.” I prefer we work together. You are the expert of your body, your story and your current lifestyle. All of these things matter when you try to change the way you eat. I share what I’ve learned about how nutrition applies to your personalized needs and goals. Together we create a plan that makes sense for you.

Before your first Beyond Broccoli nutrition counseling appointment you will fill out a client intake form that asks about your lifestyle including:

Food & water intake

Physical activity

Sleep patterns

Current stress

Personal medical history of concern

Medications & supplements

Physical & digestive symptoms

Brief history of your relationship with food

The amount of time it takes to make nutrition changes varies according to your goals, how ready you are to change, and other factors. Some clients come in for a session or two, practice putting a plan in place, then return as needed for support. Other clients benefit from a regular “accountability partner” as they make changes. I’m open to whatever supports you best. I believe in “progress not perfection” and I work at your pace.

Beyond Broccoli is a Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wyoming provider.

Check with your insurance company prior to your first visit to see if your plan includes nutrition counseling. Full payment is expected at the time of service if your visit is not covered, you have not met your yearly deductible, or you are unsure about coverage. You will receive a receipt to submit to your insurance company for direct reimbursement.

Eating Disorder Treatment – Nutrition Counseling

Nutrition counseling is an important part of treatment for and recovery from an eating disorder. Together we address nutrition and related concerns, and work to help you create a positive relationship with food and your body.

As a Certified Eating Disorder Registered Dietitian (CEDRD), I prefer to work as part of a treatment team that includes medical and mental health professionals. This approach is considered “best practice” to treat these complex illnesses. With your permission I work with past providers or treatment teams from a higher level of care to help you make a smooth transition to your new team.

If you do not yet have a treatment team, during our initial nutrition appointment we discuss options for psychotherapy and medical providers based on your needs and goals.

I consider coordination of care with other members of the clinical team part of the process once Release of Information forms are in place. I encourage you to include other members of your support team in our work together – parents, partners, siblings, close friends, or whomever else you trust and want to involve in your treatment and recovery journey.

Family or Couples Nutrition Counseling

Eating is personal. However, changes to eating habits can affect, or be affected by, every significant relationship in your daily life. Nutrition counseling where you make changes with those close to you –family, partners, friends, or co-workers can provide support, encouragement, ideas and motivation. A family approach is especially important for children who need to make dietary changes since they do not make the major food decisions (shop, cook, etc.). Family changes are a great way to improve everyone’s health and well-being.

To prepare for a family or couples nutrition counseling session, each person fills out an intake form (described above). We then focus on individual and collective goals in session.

Other Beyond Broccoli Nutrition Education Services

Many people learn best by doing rather than simply listening. Beyond Broccoli provides a range of experiential nutrition education options to guide and support long-term changes.

Private Small Group Nutrition Classes

If you have 4-8 people you can choose from the complete list of past Beyond Broccoli classes and programs for your group– or suggest a new topic! Content from past classes is updated and to meet your group’s needs and goals. (See list of class ideas below in Past Classes section).

Grocery Store Outing

The grocery store can be confusing. Every package boasts bold health claims and difficult-to-read ingredient lists. Grocery store tours are a great way to ask questions you think about each time you reach for something at the store and wonder “is this really healthy?” or “is this important for my nutrition/health goals?”

Home Nutritional Consult or Cooking Instruction

Eating well requires thought and planning. Home consults are a great way to explore your kitchen together and brainstorm ideas to support your nutrition goals. This is not a food shaming session! Instead of the “good food/bad food” way of thinking, I embrace the opportunity to help you see what is working and not working for you. I also share what we know from food psychology research about making your home food environment line up with your health and nutrition goals.

Finally, I believe healthy foods can and should taste delicious! My background in the restaurant business combined with my nutrition education and my longtime love of good food come together with practical tips and ideas to help you put quick, easy, healthy meals together.

Past Nutrition Classes, Presentations & Programs

Beyond Broccoli Nutrition Classes

Eat to Perform, Feel and Be Your Best (Dancer’s Workshop)

Intuitive Eating to Feel Your Best

Sports Nutrition for Girls (JHHS Swim & Dive Teams)

Food & You – Explore Beyond the What

Eat to Boost Immunity

Food & Mood

Healthful Foods in a Hurry

See more/less

Hockey Nutrition for Girls (USA Hockey Development Team Camp)

Beneficial Plant Compounds and Your Health

Nutrition Tips for Recreational Cycling

Fuel for Hockey Tournaments (specific to women &/or girls)

Conscious Eating for the New Year

Backcountry Nutrition (many variations)

Improving Blood Cholesterol with Food

Eat to Improve Blood Pressure

Chronic Inflammation – What You Eat Can Make a Difference

Sustainable Nutrition – Making Informed Choices

Eat to Boost Immunity

Food & Mood

Healthful Foods in a Hurry

Food for Your Heart

The Blood Sugar-Food Connection

Flash in the Pan – Nutrition for Menopause

Food is Fuel – Nutrition for the Weekend Warrior

Re-think Sweets & Treats

Vegetarian Meals for Omnivores

Calcium Without Cows

Healthful Holidays

Bastyr University Nutrition Courses

While in Seattle from 2009-2013 I taught as Adjunct Nutrition Faculty for the Department of Nutrition & Exercise Science at Bastyr University. These courses can be adapted for small group classes or presentations by request.

Cultural Perspectives on Food

Core requirement for undergraduate nutrition students focused on awareness and appreciation of various ethnic cultures to develop a foundation for cultural competency. Topics include intercultural communication, beliefs related to food and health/healing, body image, and religion.

Bastyr Food & Society

Elective open to all students, focused on nutrition in a broad social context. Explore environmental, political, biological, economical, agricultural, ethical, and psychological factors that influence what humans eat.

Entrepreneurial Nutrition

Elective open to all students, focused on variety of aspects related to starting a nutrition- or health-related business. Includes approaches to tap into students’ creative entrepreneurial spirit and explore the underpinnings of a business plan.

Nutrition in the Life Cycle

Core requirement for nutrition graduate students. This course explores the physiological and metabolic relationships to nutrition through various stages in the life cycle.

Beyond Broccoli Nutrition Presentations

The following presentations include a variety of topics that are also available for a group nutrition class or presentation with updated content.

Share ideas and accept group support related to making positive changes

Finding Balance with Food

Explore and improve your relationship with food. Begin with an overview of many factors that influence what and how much you eat, then discover how to manage them.

Emotional Eating Classes

Replace emotional or stress eating habits with normal eating

Develop a positive relationship with food and with your body

View food as nourishment, fuel and a source of pleasure not stress

Beyond Broccoli Whole Foods Alternative to Detox Diets

The class is an overview of the whole foods alternative to the various popular methods of detoxification and cleansing. We explore the myths and unsupported ideas related to “detox diets” and learn ways to support excellent health using whole foods.

No More Diets

A non-diet approach to work towards your body’s naturally healthy weight. Classes based on principles related to Intuitive and Mindful Eating, with emphasis on healthy at any size.

Fuel for Backcountry Adventures

Nutrition is important for basic survival and optimal performance in the backcountry. This class series includes backcountry basics for short and longer adventures with ideas for DIY healthy meals and snacks.

“Awareness is not vigilance, and the fear of food can be as unhealthy and as reckless as indifference to it.”